Weekender: January 21-23 -

Friday, January 21st

On a warm wooden table, there is a glass bowl of tuna poke with dark sauce dripping down white rice and tempura crunch on top. In the background, there are blurred string lights and blurred flags and signs of Broadway Food Hall restaurants. Photo by Alyssa Buckley. — *Photo by Alyssa Buckley.*

Go out for a Friday lunch, Broadway Food Hall, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., $8-12

You made it to the weekend — almost. Set the vibe for a good weekend by going out for lunch at BFH. There are five restaurants under one roof, and this week, I wrote about a lunch I had from each one. If you’re hungry for a sandwich, check out the cheesesteak at La Royale or the bánh mì at A Taste of Both Worlds. If you want something refreshing, enjoy a poke bowl from King Kuma. If you want a hot lunch, order the flautas from El Paraiso or a rice bowl from Muchacho. If you can’t make to lunch on Friday, Broadway Food Hall is open until 7, so pick up dinner to go or stop in to eat at the food hall. (AB)

View the Springer Cultural Center’s latest virtual art exhibit, online, free

Don your best staying-in clothes, pour a drink, and cozy up to a virtual showing of Barbara Curtis’ series of work entitled In the Swim. If you’d rather see it in person, call 217-398-2376 to schedule a visit before January 29th. (DD)

Saturday, January 22nd

Cheer on Illinois swimmers and divers, ARC pool, 11 a.m., free

It’s the annual Splash Bash, and in addition to watching the Illini take on Nebraska in the pool, there will be carnival games and food. Swimming not your style? There is also men’s tennis and women’s basketball happening this weekend. (JM)

Bundle up for the Polar Bear Ride, Common Ground, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., free

Bike riding doesn’t have to be reserved for the more temperate seasons. Join the Champaign-Urbana Cyclists for a brisk 5.2 mile ride through Champaign-Urbana. You’ll journey to The Literary in Downtown Champaign, warm up and grab a treat, then head back on the Boneyard Trail. Helmets and layers are recommended, and it’ll be a leisurely and slow-paced ride. Learn more about the route and “rules of the road” here. (JM)

A close up of two people's feet mid-jump. They both have black shoes, and one is wearing a white dress and the other a black dress. They are in a field with bales of hay in the background. Photo from Flatlands Dance Film Festival Facebook page. — *Image from Flatlands Dance Film Festival Facebook page.*

Watch the 2022 Flatlands Dance Short Film Competition, Spurlock Museum, 7 p.m., $5 students/seniors, $10 general admission

Featuring 13 short dance films from across the globe, this event “exemplifies and redefines the choreographic possibilities of cinema and the choreographic potential of dance itself and is always, an audience favorite.” FDFF awards will be presented after the screenings and will include an audience award, decided that night. (DD)

A view of a band on stage from behind the drummer. The drummer has a baseball cap on, and is sitting behind a drum set. In the foreground is a guitarist. There are beams of stage lights streaming across the stage. Photo from Zoofunkyou's Facebook page. — *Image from Zoofunkyou’s Facebook page.*

Get psyched for Zoofunkyou, NOLA’s Rock Bar, 7 p.m., $7

Part of Summer Camp Saturdays, NOLA’s is bringing funky psychedelic vibes courtesy of Zoofunkyou. Come hang out, maybe get some drinks, and enjoy the sonic trip that this group is going to take you on. (SW)

Sunday, January 23rd

Find some snowflakes, any Champaign County Forest Preserve, times vary, free

There might actually be a few real snowflakes on Sunday (fingers crossed), but either way you can find some painted snowflakes out and about at one of the Champaign County Forest Preserves. There are 40 to find across the seven preserves, so you better get moving. (JM)

On a brown slatted table, there is an oval white plate with three yellow pancakes and a slather of red syrup. To the right, there is a coffee in a red mug, and a pink cocktail in a glass. To the top in the center, there is a small plate of diced red onions and two strips of cooked bacon. Photo by Alyssa Buckley. — *Photo by Alyssa Buckley.*

Brunch on pancakes with strawberry tequila syrup, Cowboy Monkey, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., $10

This Tex-Mex brunch is delicious, and the drinks are just as good. Order coffee, tea, smoothies, and cocktails to go with your weekend brunch. These masa pancakes have a great texture, and the maple chipotle butter and strawberry tequila syrup take them to the next level. Also on the menu are churro French toast sticks, omelettes, burritos, and more. Read the whole brunch menu at Cowboy Monkey here. (AB)

Get a musical taste of Argentina, Rose Bowl Tavern, 1 p.m., free

Bandoneon Massacre is a large orchestra collective playing Argentinian tango music. They’ll be performing at Rose Bowl this Sunday. If you are looking to dance and experience a taste of Argentina, this is the event for you. (SW)

An assortment of percussive instruments are sitting on a table. A tie-dyed drape hangs in the background. Photo from Facebook event page. — *Photo from Facebook event page.*

Try your hand at Afro-Brazilian percussion, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 2 p.m., free

Samba group Bloco Gavião will be giving free workshops throughout the semester to anyone on campus or in the community who wants to learn Afro-Brazilian drumming traditions. The workshops are about 90 minutes long, and instruments will be provided. No registration necessary. (JM)

Top photo from CCFPD Facebook page.

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All event information is accurate to the best of our abilities, but sometimes we make mistakes and sometimes event information, times, prices, etc., change after we look them up. Whenever possible, we’ve provided a link to the original event page; you should always double-check the source before you make any firm plans. Thanks for your understanding.

Smile Politely